Published on 2020-03-24 by
Norlan Echevarria
Residents arriving in the country will be transferred to isolation centers
As of Monday's arrivals, citizens are being transferred to isolation centers for 14 days.
As part of the implementation of the measures, from the next midnight no foreign visitor will arrive, except for Cuban citizens or foreigners residing in the national territory.
There is a noticeable decrease in flights and tourism.
The exit of Cubans from the national territory is regulated
From this moment on, the departure of all our compatriots from national territory is being regulated for a simple reason: to take care of their health, of their relatives, their neighbors and coworkers, ”he pointed out.
He reported that trips may only be made for humanitarian reasons or other causes that justify it. "We would be irresponsible if we were stimulating the departure of our compatriots from the national territory."
The current situation makes people who are traveling more vulnerable. The epidemiological surveillance carried out shows the tendency that our compatriots have arrived infected, without showing symptoms until a few days after their arrival.
"We are going to continue receiving Cubans, we are not going to close the borders. All Cubans who arrive, even suspected of the disease, will be received, isolated, treated and cured if the disease is detected, but we cannot stimulate travel, "he insisted.
Each passenger entering the country can only carry one carry-on bag and one suitcase
Based on a government decision, the Ministry of Transportation contacted all the airlines that still travel to the country to request and require that, starting this Tuesday, March 24, each passenger who takes a flight to Cuba can only carry one baggage and a suitcase.
Controlled transfer of travelers to isolation centers in their provinces
The Cuban Prime Minister added that another measure at airports, in order to avoid the concentration of people and relatives, will be the controlled transfer of citizens to the isolation centers of their provinces of residence in selected buses of the Ministry of Transportation. and under the leadership of the National Revolutionary Police.
"We ask family members to refrain from going to airports, because they will not be able to receive or interact with family members, for security reasons."
No tourist can go outside: They will be in isolation
The Prime Minister reported other specific measures for the tourism sector:
• All tourists who still remain in Cuban hotels are in solitary confinement. Starting this Tuesday, March 24, no tourist can go outside.
• All tourist excursions in cities or historical, nature or cultural sites are suspended. The private sector will also not have authorized the movement of tourists. "If you ride a tourist in your car, you should know that you are committing a violation, because the tourist has to be at your hotel."
• The rental of tourist cars is suspended and those that are already rented will be gradually received.
• Like those who stay in hotels, tourists who are staying in private rental houses have been isolated since this Tuesday, March 24. The owners of the hostels must worry about the departure of those tourists. Currently, there are 9,413 foreign tourists staying in private homes; 6,000 of them are in Havana (especially in the municipalities of Old Havana, Havana Center, Plaza de la Revolución and Playa).
The gradual transfer of tourists in private homes to hotels will begin
Due to the level of risk involved in having tourists in the same house where the owner's families live, Marrero Cruz pointed out that it has been indicated "to begin a gradual transfer of tourists in private homes to hotels."
• Starting this Tuesday, all tourists staying in private homes in Trinidad, Viñales and Baracoa will be transferred to hotel facilities. None of these places has airports or facilities for tourists to leave the country; therefore, they will be taken to hotels outside those territories.
• The Ministry of Tourism will conduct this process, which will be carried out gradually. The Government will assume the cost of transportation to hotel facilities, with established health control and surveillance. The price of accommodation will be similar to that of rental houses.
• Along with the increase in sanitary and control measures by Public Health, in hotels, both for tourists and for workers, other decisions are taken, such as the closing of discotheques, in addition to control measures in gastronomy, limiting recreational activities and closing swimming pools and gyms to avoid concentration
• These measures will also be adopted in the non-state sector: discos, bars, nightclubs, swimming pools and private gyms must remain closed.
Accommodation for national tourism is closed
Regarding national tourism, Manuel Marrero explained that:
• The accommodations for national tourism are closed, some of which are already being used as isolation centers.
• Currently, there are about 3,000 Cubans staying in the hotels that are being opened.
• Hotels will remain open, but growth in demand for accommodation will not be stimulated.
For further information visit: www.cubadebate.cu